KPs protest, take down signboard of APHC office

Protestor removing Hurriyat Board outside office in Srinagar. —Excelsior/Shakeel

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, Oct 17: Kashmiri Pandits along with Civil Society members today protested against the killing of a Kashmiri Pandit in Shopian and pulled down the signboard of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) office at Rajbagh here.

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Scores of people appeared outside the Hurriyat Conference office and were seen raising slogans, seeking justice for the Kashmiri Pandits who have been killed over some time in the Valley.
The protestors said that whenever there is a killing of anyone, the people who subscribe to the ideology of the Hurriyat maintain silence.
“Enough is enough now and we will not stay quiet; whosoever is killed, be it a Muslim, a Sikh, or for that matter, a Kashmiri Pandit; it is a murder of humanity,” Javed Beigh, a social activist said.
Kashmiri Pandits on the occasion said that they are not safe in Kashmir and if the same continues, then the administration needs to warn them. “If they feel that things are not right, then, the administration needs to warn us so that we could leave well in time,” said a Kashmiri Pandit, Nanna Ji.
He said that Kashmiri pandits very well belong to Kashmir and have not come from any other part of the world and deserve to be protected at any cost. The protesting Kashmiri pandits said that the administration needs to take the necessary measures so that they could feel safe.
“Innocent killings need to end; whosoever is doing it has not association with any religion, because terrorism does not have any religion; the youngsters are being subjected to brainwashing and to stop that, the Government has to take the necessary measures,” another Kashmiri Pandit said.
SMC, Corporator, Shaheena, who was part of the protest, said that they have chosen the spot of Hurriyat Office for the protest to send out a strong message to those who have been perpetuating the violence.
“It is not happening in their homes so they won’t understand the pain of it; they have been behind the violence in Kashmir and they have to be answerable; if the youth of Kashmir are today facing issues, it is all because of the Hurriyat conference,” she said.
Meanwhile, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has denounced, what it termed hooliganism demonstrated outside its Rajbagh by “sponsored goons” with police as bystanders while stating that the same is an attempt of diverting attention from the failure of authorities to safeguard the lives of Kashmiri Pandits.
“APHC in principle has always denounced killings of all hues and has since its inception advocated the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley with dignity and in safety,” APHC said.